Nov. 13, 2009
Box Score | Quotes
ROCHESTER, Mich. - Freshman Bethany Watterworth scored a team-high 23 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, and senior Melissa Jeltema added 15 points, but it was not enough for the Oakland University women's basketball team (0-1) as the Golden Grizzlies dropped a 74-65 decision to the University of Detroit Mercy Titans (1-0) on Friday afternoon at the Athletics Center O'Rena.
"I think that we have a lot of work to do on our working together," said Oakland head coach Beckie Francis. "We are still trying to find out what our rotations are. With the injury to (Brittany Carnago), it's really tough. We have to get back to work."
In the first half, Oakland controlled the pace early on, pushing out to a seven-point lead (24-17) with 8:08 remaining in the half after Watterworth converted a 3-point play. Watterworth sunk a layup at the 3:34 mark to push the Golden Grizzlies lead to a game-high 10 points (31-21). However, the Titans finished the half on a 10-3 run, cutting the OU lead to three points (34-31) at the intermission. Oakland held a 43.8 percent (14-of-32) to 35.5 percent (11-of-31) advantage from the floor in the first half, while forcing 11 UDM turnovers. Watterworth finished the first half with 18 points and six rebounds.
However, the second half would prove to be entirely different. After Jeltema pushed OU's lead back to five points (36-31) just over a minute into the half, Detroit reeled off a 10-0 run, using a 3-pointer by Demeisha Fambro to take the team's first lead with 16:27 remaining in the contest. After another 3-point play by Watterworth pulled OU to within three (47-44) at the 12:02 mark, UDM went on a 13-0 run to take a 16-point (60-44) lead with 7:57 remaining.
The Golden Grizzlies battled back, cutting the UDM lead to six with 1:28 remaining after a 3-point play by Jeltema at the 1:28 mark, but the Titans made the most of their free-throw opportunities over the final 90 seconds of the contest to escape the O'Rena with a win.
"When your shots aren't falling, players get frustrated," added Francis. "And we weren't as intense defensively as we were in the first half. We weren't yelling out assignments after missing shots. We have to stay excited whether we're scoring or not."
UDM's Yar Shayok led all players with 26 points and 14 rebounds. OU forced 20 UDM turnovers on nine steals, but the Titans shot 60.9 percent from the floor in the second half to OU's 28.9 percent while converting 18 of 24 free-throw opportunities to claim the win.
Oakland will return to action on Sunday, Nov. 15, as the Golden Grizzlies head to New York to face Columbia at the Levien Gym. A 1 p.m. tip is scheduled.
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